Alif Corporation, a local company, plans to introduce an ‘electronic seal & lock’ or e-tracking system from July this year to track containers and stop pilferage, and to ensure security of both imported and exported goods. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has advised the President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) to take necessary steps to introduce the new system within the shortest timeframe in the larger interest of businessmen.
NBR has finalised charges of the new system for providing the new ‘electronic seal & lock’ system in export-import containers in the country. A businessman has to pay of Tk 600 for a container for the first 48 hours and Tk 50 for each hour after that to get services from the company. Chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR) M Nazibur Rahman told The Independent that the e-tracking system will help in ensuring security of export-import containers. “We finalised the charges for the new system; the businessmen and private companies will have a win-win situation,” he said adding, “It will also ensure ‘trade security’ for the export-import business and help stop misuse of bond forgery.” “We have advised FBCCI to take necessary steps to introduce the ‘electronic seal & lock’ system as soon as possible,” the NBR Chairman added. Manager of Alif Corporation Borhan Uddin told this Correspondent that they have started the process to introduce the ‘electronic seal & lock’ system within July this year. “We are completing required formalities to introduce the new system,” he said.
He informed that the electronic seal & lock system will act as a preventive measure against pilferage, smuggling and sabotage of cargo within containers and trailers en route to their destination. “If either type of seal is found to be broken or if its identification (ID) number is different from the one on the cargo document, it’s an indication that the container or trailer door might have been opened by an unauthorised person at some point during transportation.
The unique ID numbers on both electronic seal & lock provide tracking information,” he added. “We are assuring that container pilferage will end once the new system is in place,” he stated.
A senior official of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) told this Correspondent on condition of anonymity that the new system will help ensure the trade security if the system is implemented here properly. Sources in NBR said, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), World Customs Organisation (WCO), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), United Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Commission have advised the government, particularly the Finance Ministry, NBR and the Shipping Ministry, to introduce the new system.
The new technology will be introduced on a pilot basis to and from Chittagong Port and inland container terminals known as off-docks, where products to be exported are stuffed in containers for shipment and imported goods are released after customs clearance, located within Chittagong city. According to NBR, Alif Corporation will run the system for a year on pilot basis and then decide on continuation of the arrangement based on the corporation’s performance. A majority of export products, mostly readymade garments, are stuffed in containers at off-docks for shipment, and 39 import items are released at off-docks. There are now 15 off-docks in the country. Sources in the Home Ministry informed that the ministry has asked the law enforcement agencies, including police headquarters, to take necessary steps to stop pilferage from containers on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway and also inside the Chittagong Port, in keeping with requests from different business organisations, especially BGMEA and BKMEA.